San Luis Rey Sprinkler System Behind Schedule

During a June 16 meeting of the California Horse Racing Board, commissioners pressed The Stronach Group, owner of San Luis Rey Downs, to provide status updates and expedite the completion of sprinkler systems in the older barns at the training facility. San Luis Rey, located in Bonsall, Calif., was the scene of a horrific fire in December 2017 in which 46 horses perished as the Lilac fire spread through San Diego County. Since that time, complete updates to the facility's fire-safety protections, including sprinklers, have been delayed. During Wednesday's teleconferenced meeting of the CHRB, TSG asked for an extension, citing unavoidable issues related to COVID-19. At its August 2020 meeting, the CHRB previously granted an extension for TSG to complete the project this year by the end of July. It is not on track to finish on time. Wednesday TSG sought to have the timetable extended until April 2022, with most of the work done by January. "We bid the project with three different groups of sprinkler installation companies, and basically all three of them were shut down during the pandemic due to staffing and lack of materials," Nate Newby, general manager of Santa Anita Park, another TSG-owned property, told the board. "One of the companies is back up and running, and they actually started the installation now, or, as of about a month and a half ago." Newby said the project is further slowed by construction not beginning until after morning training. San Luis Rey currently houses about 350 horses, Newby said, many of whom ship out to race at Southern California racetracks. Some horses have been shifted to different barns on the grounds as construction proceeds, Newby said. Kimberly Marrs, a trainer at San Luis Rey Downs who operates the equine sports therapy company KTM Equine, called into the teleconference and urged commissioners to approve the extension, calling the fire suppression system in two new barns there "extraordinary." "Even with a suppression system—I don't know that the particular nature of this fire—it might have slowed it down; it might not have stopped it. It was a very unique situation that day," she said. "But let it be known, we have fire extinguishers, everywhere. I have fire hoses located at each opening in the barns, and the work is commencing." Due to warm, dry weather in California this year, experts anticipate an increased risk of fires in the state in 2021. Chairman Dr. Greg Ferraro asked if San Luis Rey horses could be transferred to another location, such as Santa Anita, whose meet ends this month. Southern California racing moves to Los Alamitos Race Course and Del Mar during the summer. "If we have horses at Santa Anita, San Luis Rey Downs, and Del Mar, we are not going to have adequate vet coverage because we send our vets to Del Mar," said Dr. Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer for TSG. The CHRB ultimately chose to table discussion on the latest proposed extension until next month, requiring TSG to submit a detailed weekly plan for sprinkler construction and a progress report during its September meeting. Also Wednesday, the CHRB approved a non-precedent-setting transfer for summer fair dates to the TSG-owned Golden Gate Fields, a move criticized by Arabian racing interests. Golden Gate does not want to conduct Arabian racing, which it considers financially detrimental. The CHRB also outlined a plan from the California Authority of Racing Fairs to offer pari-mutuel fantasy sports wagering this summer at 19 satellite locations beginning Aug. 18 to coincide with the start of the National Football League season. CHRB commissioners welcomed the innovation of fantasy-sports wagering but raised concerns about legality and regulation. The CHRB does not regulate this specific type of wagering, executive director Scott Chaney told the board. Chaney reported a 34% decrease in equine fatalities to date at CHRB facilities in the state compared to this point last year, and catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries dropped 47%. He indicated a 29% decrease in racing-related fatalities. Earlier during the meeting, commissioner Wendy Mitchell and Ferraro noted the importance of examining potentially unreported horse deaths of injured animals that had left CHRB-regulated facilities. Wednesday's meeting marked the last with Dr. Rick Arthur as equine medical director. Arthur retires in July, replaced by Dr. Jeff Blea. Commissioners praised Arthur's approximate 15 years as equine medical director, and Arthur reflected on action taken to benefit equine welfare. "When I started as equine medical director, multiple anti-inflammatories could be administered the day before the race, permitted thresholds were ridiculously high, joints injected as close as 48 hours prior to racing, and anabolic steroids were unregulated," he said. "Today, California is well-positioned to expect the fewest changes of any state under the (Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act) program, whatever that ends up to be."